Bridgerton vibes but queer!! I enjoyed the characters as well as the setting in this book. Thanks for the advance copy!

This book really surprised me, I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did!

This definitely falls in the cozy category of readings as there is never much tension or stress throughout the book. That being said, I really liked the different characters (especially the Tallon sisters) and the reimagining of 1800s England.

Review in exchange for net galley ARC

Hayley Kiyoko’s sophomore novel is a beautiful but achy exploration of sexism in a queernormative world. What happens when you can love whomever you want without shame, but must still face consequences as a woman that even gay men do not? At its core, Where There’s Room For Us is about Freya and Ivy’s love story, but Kiyoko also takes the time to examine the discrimination against women central to this England’s way of life - particularly through Freya’s father.

It’s a question that echoes real life. How could a father love his daughters, but be against things that would invariably be to their benefit? Why is it that men, even those that love other men, are still viewed as superior to women simply because of their sex? Lord Tallon is the embodiment of this query, and, like real life, there is no neat ending, a tearful apology and a promise to right all his wrongs to tie the story up in a cute little bow. People become set in their ways, to the point they hurt those they love when they step too far outside some predetermined sense of “right.” Freya is not afforded the basic privilege of self-exploration in her household because of tradition and the rigid mindset of her parents, leading to a conflict that damages relationships of all kinds. Fortunately for Freya, she has a support network, but not everyone is so lucky.

My favorite scene was the sisters visiting The Bridge for Freya’s first time. Free-flowing queer joy and acceptance is important for anyone to see, but doubly so for someone like Freya, who feels she may not have the right to count herself part of the community when she is still figuring out who she is. TK is one of my favorite characters despite their brief appearance, and I’d love a novella about their adventures both before and during the creation of their community.

There were only a few things that I felt fell short. The ending was just the slightest bit rushed - the issue seemed to have too big of an impact for a simple kiss-and-make-up solution, but that is where we found ourselves. While I absolutely adored the final scene, it left me wanting with a few loose ends. What happened to June and her group? Have the Tallons gotten over tradition? I just wish a few more answers had been provided.

Overall, Where There’s Room For Us is a sweet, thought-provoking read that I think fans of Pride & Prejudice and Hayley Kiyoko’s previous work will enjoy. Grab a scone, find a cozy library chair, and fall into a whirlwind story of love and discovery.

I'm... not the audience for this book. (Wait! Don't go! There's more!)

It's not my genre, not my time period, not my writing style...

...but I honestly loved it anyway? This book made me happy. It just made me so happy! I spent so much of this book just smiling and 100% buying the fun, flirty, wholesome, head-over-heels dynamic between the two leads that it really didn't matter whether I should have been reading it or not - I was so glad I did. I was so invested from that first mess of a meeting! I'm still smiling, gosh darn it!

The love story felt earnest, and earned, and real. The family and friend dynamics felt real; in particular, I absolutely bought that these sisters were sisters and had such a good time hanging out with them that I wanted my honorary membership, tyvm.

And I wound up really liking the whole... conceit? It felt like Kiyoko had actually put a lot of thought into a Victorian era that might have come to support LGBT couples and individuals sooner, but still had all the other hangups of the time - including both the practical (how does this impact inheritance? whose children count and how do you get them?) and infuriating (different standards for women? of course there are different standards for women! 🤬) which I realized along the way actually made this a much richer read for me than some pure queernorm genre fiction that tries to handwave the whole lot of it away. The moments of joy felt richer and harder won than if those other obstacles weren't interfering, so I had a much deeper and more personal emotional response thoughout.

It also left me feeling just wildly impressed at this way of wrangling something I personally have found myself missing from the early days of lesfic (external/societal conflict rather than interpersonal often driving the third act breakup) without just relying on writing History As It Was. I'd honestly love to see more of this in more books in the future, contemporary, historical, or otherwise!

Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for this ARC!

This was a very sweet story! I enjoyed the characters, their development, and the historical setting. I did feel that the act 3 conflict felt rushed in some aspects and could've used an extra chapter or two to expand and address, but nonetheless I enjoyed the book! 3.5 stars.

3.25 stars. I really wanted to like it more but it just fell incredibly flat. A quick historical sapphic romance in a somewhat alternate reality.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday books for a complimentary earc in exchange for an honest review.

This book felt like slipping into a dream where history finally gets rewritten the way it should’ve been. A Victorian-inspired romance where queer love isn’t forbidden? Yes, please.

Ivy and Freya pulled me in right away. Ivy’s this bold, outspoken poet, and Freya is the picture of refined society—on paper, they couldn’t be more different, but together they spark in a way that feels both dangerous and tender. Watching Freya step out of the rigid life planned for her and actually choose love was incredibly satisfying.

🥰 Jane Austen, but make it sapphic. 🌈

This was a sweet book. I was surprised when I saw Hayley Kiyoko had written a book. I have a very sapphic playlist I listen to when I'm writing, and it includes her song Girls Like Girls. Also, her collab with Kehlani on What I Need is a bop. I'm also a big fan of Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë, so when I saw this book on NetGalley, I had to pick it up.

The book takes place in 1880s England where queerness is cool, but women don't have the vote, and sapphic couples can't inherit their father's title or inheritance. I really liked that we didn't have to worry about the main characters being together from an extremely homophobic standpoint. It allowed the story to focus on their love without having to hide in dark corners, and to address women's rights.

Freya is one of four daughters of a wealthy landowner, and everyone expects her to marry a man with a title and have a bunch of boys to carry on the family name and inheritance. Two of her sisters are queer, and one is married to a man but hasn't had any boys. A lot is riding on Freya marrying well and popping out babies.

Ivy is the daughter of an American man and a Japanese woman. She's a poet and successful in her own right. Her brother inherits a house near Freya's family, and they move to England to deal with the estate. Ivy has writer's block and needs inspiration, and she has a reputation as a womanizer.

The two meet at a party, and Ivy is smitten. Freya is confused, but loves spending time with Ivy. What follows is a cute romance intertwined with societal pressures to conform and do what's best for the family. There's a tug-of-war between Ivy's American individualism and Freya's English penchant for status and family above all. Ivy is more politically minded, and Freya refuses to see her father's misogyny for what it is.

There is very little to no spice, other than some kissing and mild groping. It's all closed door, so YA readers could pick this one up. It's in keeping with the Austen style by mixing political and societal criticism with a stirring love story.

My only beef is the breakup mechanism. It's not terrible, but I think it could have been stronger if it were more intrinsically tied to Ivy's story arc and the lesson she needed to learn. It was close enough that it wasn't a big deal, but I felt that with a little effort it could have been stronger.

I didn't get worked up reading the book, but the acknowledgments had me tearing up. She wrote something similar to what I write in my books: she aspires to offer hopeful stories to the queer community. I feel you. We need a little hope in dark times when it's so hard to find.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet, sapphic Victorian romance. This Where There's Room for Us fits the bill.

Hayley Kiyoko delivers a wonderful reimagining of the late 1800s — a world where queer people exist openly and visibly, much like they do today. While the characters still face obstacles and prejudices, the story leans into the joy of living authentically, creating a refreshing historical backdrop for sapphic love to flourish.

For those familiar with Hayley and Becca’s love story, you’ll definitely catch the parallels in Freya and Ivy’s relationship, especially early on. Honestly, it’s adorable. The character development throughout the book felt spot-on, though I did feel the ending wrapped up a little too quickly compared to the depth of the earlier chapters.

Overall, this was a heartfelt and engaging read from one of my favorite queer artists (Lesbian Jesus, forever my queen). I’d happily recommend this to friends looking for a tender, sapphic story with a touch of historical reimagining.

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC copy! 3.75-4 stars.

In a reimagined 1880s Victorian England—where love is free regardless of gender—bold poet Ivy, fresh from her spirited New York life, must adapt to the expectations of high society when her brother unexpectedly inherits an estate. There she meets Freya Tallon, the most eligible socialite of the season. When Ivy impersonates Freya’s sister on a date, the two discover a spark neither expected. As their connection deepens, they’re forced to reckon with the tension between societal duty and authentic desire. Inspired by Kiyoko’s own experiences and literary classics like Little Women and Pride and Prejudice, the story blends gentle romance with emotional honesty and queer joy.

Where There’s Room for Us is a heartwarming, queer-affirming YA romance that reimagines Regency flair with emotional honesty and personal resonance. Its greatest charm lies in the freedom of love and the chemistry between Ivy and Freya—though a more even pacing and deeper exploration of Freya’s arc could have elevated it further. Still, if you’re craving a gentle, inclusive romance with vintage elegance and queer joy, this novel offers a delightful escape.

Perfect for fans of:
Bridgerton–style romance with inclusive representation
LGBTQ+ YA seeking positive, hopeful love stories
Light historical or alternate-universe romance with modern sensibilities

Hayley Kiyoko has created a truly special world in Where There's Room for Us. Inspired by classics like Pride and Prejudice, this novel delivers a sweeping romance in a reimagined 1880s England where love is free, but high society's expectations still run deep. The story follows the witty and independent Ivy, who finds herself captivated by the charming socialite Freya. Their connection is palpable, and the book beautifully explores the tension between duty and desire. It’s a heartfelt and genuinely moving romance that feels both timeless and perfectly suited for today's readers.

Oh this was so good!

It’s that type of slow buildup to the perfect romance, and Hayley Kiyoko does a fantastic job creating that feeling of yearning, especially in the last 30% of the story.

I’m a HUGE character reader; they make or break a story for me. One of the author’s biggest strengths is character writing. Each character has their own personality, and it never wavers throughout the book. Honestly, you could omit their names and I’d still know who was talking. They’re that strong!! Kudos!!

I also really loved the story itself, and I’m not even a romance reader. Yes, this is about Freya and Ivy, but it’s also about society and its perception of same-sex relationships. I really felt for Freya, having to live up to such high expectations, expectations that differ from her siblings. And I felt for Ivy, getting caught in the middle of it all.

The reasons I didn’t give this a full five stars:
1. The ending felt rushed. I would’ve loved a little more about what happened. Another 20 pages or so to show life after, between the two main characters and the law surrounding the county. The buildup was so good, I just wanted more payoff.
2. The dual POV works, but it doesn’t feel necessary. The story is about Freya and Ivy, but really it’s Freya’s story. I think a single POV (Freya’s) might have made it even stronger.

Very excited to see what else we get from this author!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for this ARC!

I really wanted to love this book, and I did love the general plot (and Ivy and Freya's relationship in general), but it missed the mark in a few ways. I mainly found the writing style hard to believe based on the time period, and the resolution of the main conflict felt a little rushed (though the actual ending of the book was sweet). It was nice and worth the read, but it took a while to really get into it.

thank you to netgalley and wednesday books for the arc <3

2.5 sorry hayley kiyoko i wanted to like this so bad but unfortunately it was just too sugary sweet and easy for my liking. I think especially the time jumps made it tough to see the character development because suddenly it’s 3 weeks later and the char has figured out whatever problem was happening. especially at the end like so much forgiveness and no confrontation w father dearest? there would be a lot of benefit from a slightly longer reparation arc. and although it was explained i do believe it is quite hypocritical that the standards are randomly different for freya. and no confrontation/break up between her and lord montgomery either?? we’re just supposed to believe he took it all well?

I do see the similarities btw this romance and kiyoko’s own love story which is cute!! enjoyed that!! but yeah idk cute easy not super ground breaking just not enough friction for me.

Ok I loved this! I may have slightly clouded judgement because I could tell there were parts of Hayley and Becca’s relationship woven in which was so sweet to me. But aside from that, I found this to be very tender hearted. I loved that being queer was common in this story while still showing the difficulties of finding yourself. Also, every character was beautifully written with their love as sisters and their own traits that made them unique and occasionally bothersome. Well done Hayley! Now I’ll be dreaming of a Victorian romance series!

Where There’s Room for Us by Hayley Kiyoko is a lush, romantic reimagining of 1880s Victorian England—one where love between women is openly accepted but still tangled in the rules, class divides, and expectations of high society. When daring New York poet Ivy leaves behind her vibrant life to follow her brother to his newly inherited English estate, she has no intention of fitting into the rigid world of tea rooms and polite conversation. But everything shifts when she meets Freya Tallon, the season’s most sought-after socialite, who is bound by duty to marry well and secure her family’s future. Their chance meeting sparks an undeniable connection, one that challenges them both to reconsider the roles they’ve been told to play.

Kiyoko’s debut YA novel brims with yearning, witty banter, and the intoxicating push and pull of desire versus obligation. Ivy and Freya are richly drawn, their chemistry immediate yet layered with vulnerability, fear, and hope. The complexity of their relationship—and the personal growth each must undergo—feels deeply human, showing that even in a world where queer love is accepted, societal expectations can still be suffocating. A great read over all.

Loved this book so much! Could not put it down. The character development was great and the plot is captivating.

An extremely sweet story and a great representation for LGBTQ+ people! Thank you so much for a free copy, as I really enjoyed it and plan to buy it on release!!

4.5/5

Pros: As I remember Hayley Kiyoko from the Disney Channel Original Movie Lemonade Mouth, I get a chance to check out Where There's Room for Us. I like the setting as I love reading Victorian era books. Most of the characters are lovely (Dani is cherry and cool!). I like the plot and writing is easy for me to read.

Cons: I would say that the ending is rushed and I wish I could see one part resolved (I would not specify the part as I don't want to give away spoilers).

Verdict: The book is wonderful! I spite of a few issues, I enjoyed Where There's Room for Us!

I have received a free copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own. Thank you!

This is an engaging YA historical fiction romance that I can see teens still relating to today. The main and supporting characters were well-developed and had their own personalities and struggles. There are definitely layers to this novel, with more to be found each time it is read. Will be recommending to the YA readers in my life who also appreciate historical fiction.